Florida

21 Arrests Made in Orlando Heroin, Prostitution Ring

Police officers in central Florida say they've rescued eight women from a prostitution trafficking ring, including a 17-year-old girl.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday in Orlando that a consortium of agencies had arrested 21 suspects last week. The suspects face human trafficking, drug trafficking and racketeering charges.

Last week's arrests were the culmination of a two-year investigation by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.

The ring was run by four principal suspects. One of the main suspects, Edward Charles Redmond Jr., is still at large. He has over 56 felony charges and more than 66 felony convictions, and is considered armed and dangerous, according to Bondi.

Officials said the eight women were charged with various sex crimes but many of them could have the charges dropped as the investigation proceeds.

Officials said the women are receiving counseling and drug treatment since heroin was used to coerce them into prostitution.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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